Mancini wants three new signings this summer

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes he needs to sign three new players regardless of whether Carlos Tevez stays or goes.

The Italian insists the Argentinian remains an vital player for the club even as he tries to secure a move away from Eastlands.

The 27-year-old saw his hopes of returning to South America to be closer to his wife and two daughters crashed when Brazilian side Corinthians pulled out of a £40million move, citing the impossibility of concluding the deal before the closure of their transfer window.

And, as he looks to turn City into a side competent of winning the Barclays Premier League, Mancini, who has been linked with a move for Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero, still feels his side needs strengthening.

"I think it is really difficult to buy any players because all the good teams want these players," Mancini said on Sky Sports News.

"But I hope that before the game against (Manchester) United (in the Community Shield on August 7) we can have all these players.

"We have two, three targets but it depends.

"We need to improve because we are at the moment a few players (short) for competition and we need to have other players."

For the time being at least, Mancini still has Tevez and the manager is adamant he is still welcome at the club.

"At the moment Carlos is still a City player, like yesterday, like three days ago," the Italian said.

"In the future we will see what can happen. But for us Carlos is an important player.

"Carlos wants to leave, wants to come back to Argentina or maybe another country for his family. It is only because of this I think that the club accept to sell Carlos, because I think that we respect his reasons."

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Malbranque wants Sunderland stay

Sunderland midfielder Steed Malbranque has insisted he wants to stay on Wearside amid rumor that he could leave.

The 31-year-old is in the final year of his contract at the Stadium of Light and with manager Steve Bruce having made nine summer signings to date, Steed been linked with a move away.

Bruce still has few targets - interest in Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia and he needs to offload some of the men within his squad who are now surplus to requirements.

However, the frenchman is firm not to be one of them, and is instead targeting a new deal.

He told the Journal: "I am very happy at Sunderland - I do not want to leave this club.

"I want to stay and fight for my place, I have no interest in leaving and I would like to stay longer if possible.

"The club has moved forward in every year that I have been here and we have done it again.

"With the new players that we have at the club, we can target European football next year.

"The club keeps progressing every year and I like that - I want to be part of it and I want to be part of Sunderland's future.

"I want to be part of the squad, I have never asked to leave and I won't."

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Ji-Sung Park offered new Man United deal

Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed Park is likely to sign a two-year contract extension, having emerged as a central component in the Red Devils' plans.

Ferguson has never doubted Park's talent but the energetic midfielder's United career is besieged with injuries.

The Red Devils boss always felt Park's frequent journeys back to South Korea were a cause and now he is no longer required to make them, the 30-year-old is hoping for a positive spin-off.

"My fitness levels do get affected when I travel so much and play extra games," he said.

"Now I have finished playing for my country, I hope to get more rest, not suffer any injuries and enjoy the season."

Ferguson will hope so too, mainly if he fails to get a replacement for Paul Scholes.

Park has overcome early suspicion over the reasons behind United's decision to sign him and proved his worth on countless occasions, especially in big games.

Now, it seems, that industry will be rewarded.

"We have offered him a new contract and I am sure he will sign it," said Ferguson.

"His career at United has been nothing but excellent. He is a tremendous professional.

"I am sure he will accept the new offer and tie himself down at the club for the next two years."

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Barcelona sign Alexis Sanchez

Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Chilean star Alexis Sanchez from Udinese.

The European champions have been locked in talks with the Italian Club for a number of weeks, and have fended off interest from a host of clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea , Manchester City to land his signature.

Sanchez has agreed a five-year deal at Camp Nou and put pen to paper after the clubs finalised terms.

The Catalan club have agreed to pay an intial €26million with an additional €11.5million in add-ons.

The player will be unveiled by Barca over the weekend.

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Man Utd 7 - 0 Seattle Sounders

A Wayne Rooney hat-trick helped Manchester United demolish American MLS side Seattle Sounders 7-0 in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.

Introduced in the second-half, Rooney quickly cut loose, drilling home his first just after the re-start and completing his treble 18 minutes from time.

It was part of a seven-goal romp which takes the Red Devils' total in two games so far to 11, with Michael Owen, Mame Biram Diouf, Park Ji-sung and Gabriel Obertan scoring the rest.

The only hitch was a knock picked up by Rio Ferdinand near the end that left the defender limping at the final whistle.

United now fly to Chicago before further engagements in New Jersey and Washington and with just over three weeks to go before they begin their Premier League title defence, Sir Alex Ferguson's men have already served notice they will not easily be dislodged from their status as England's number one.

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